How can I get my child to do his homework without being distracted?
What can I do to improve his grades at school?
How can I get him to listen when I give him an order?
These are some of the most common questions parents ask of a child suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In fact, these children are often difficult to manage as they are impulsive and restless and find it difficult to concentrate on a single activity. They also have trouble waiting their turn in a conversation or in a line and often forget or lose things simply because they weren’t paying attention. However, with the right strategies, these difficulties can be overcome. How to help a hyperactive child at home.
Management of a hyperactive child at home
Adopt the right attitude
Parents often do not they realize it but their responses to the child’s behavior are decisive since they can encourage inappropriate behavior. For example, if you have given in to a tantrum, granting him what he wanted, the child will interpret that getting angry is a valid way to obtain what you wish. As a result, tantrums will become more and more frequent. Therefore, staying calm and being firm in decisions is essential.
Rewards good behavior
When the child exhibits certain behaviors and the consequences are pleasant, that behavior will be reinforced. On the contrary, if it does not receive positive reinforcement, it will end up extinct. Therefore, you should reward her good behavior. You can use words of encouragement, hugs, sweets or a toy. However, it is important that you dose the prizes so that the child does not feel motivated only by them. You can create a point board that reflects his achievements, and when he reaches a prearranged number, you can give him a reward.
Teach him to focus
For most people, staying focused in a task it is something natural but for children with ADHD it is not like that, so you will have to teach them to focus their attention. In this sense, the self-instruction model is very effective since, basically, it is about guiding you so that you can focus on the important aspects of the activity, ignoring irrelevant stimuli and planning the task step by step. . At first you should model this technique, so that the child understands it. It is about asking questions like: What do I have to do? How am I going to do it? What are the possible solutions? And that later, you indicate the steps, while you are executing them. At first, the child will have to repeat the steps aloud, then quietly and finally they will be able to mentalize them.
Teach him to avoid distractions
For the first few weeks, you may need to sit with your child to do his homework but little by little, you must leave him his space. The idea is that you teach him to recognize the stimuli that distract him, so that he himself is the one who avoids them. It is recommended that the place where they do their homework is quiet, away from stimuli that may attract their attention.
Be patient
Some parents get desperate when they start putting this advice into practice and do not get the expected results. However, dealing with ADHD is a matter of perseverance and a lot of patience. For example, if your child does not sit at the table for more than 5 minutes, the first step will be for him to stay for 6 minutes, then 7 and so on, until he manages to eat dinner without getting up.
Be consistent
Children need a structured environment to feel safe and confident. In the case of hyperactive children, this need is oversized, so it is important that you establish a series of schedules and rules that must be followed. Do not forget that educational inconsistency has very negative repercussions on their development, so if you have established certain rules, be firm in their compliance. Do not get angry with the little one, speak with a soft but firm voice and if he does not understand the message or has forgotten it, repeat it again patiently.